Steel reinforcement for freight-cars.



WA WI. BOSWORTH. STEEL REINFORCEMENT FOR FREIGHT CABS. APPuc' nMFILEDSEPT. s. I9l6.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1f wit eooeo APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6,1916.

Patent er Jam. 8, 1918,

2 SHEEN-SHEET 2.

@712? YUM a) warren n. noswon a or nonrom, was.

Y STEEL nnrnroncnmnnr ron'rnnIeHr-oa'as.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3., 19116..

Application'filed September 6, 1916. fierlal No. 118,701.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBUR M. Bos-v won'rr r, a citizen of the UnitedStates of at Norfolk, in the county America, residin of Norfolk andgtate of Virginia, have invented new. and useful improvements in- SteelReinforcements for Freight Cars, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to under frames or steel reinforcements forwooden freight cars. One object of the invention is to produce an underframe having a center sill of novel and improved construction and whichwill be particularly adapted to resist thrust and,

pulling strains .as well as load strains without danger of buckling orof being distorted or damaged in any way.

A further object of the invention is to provide the center sill orbackbone with draft sills of simple and improved construction.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing about one-half of the underframe, together with one of the bolsters supporting the same.

Figs. 2, 3, and 5 are sectional perspective views taken on the lines 22,3-3, 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one end of the under frame illustratinga modified construction. 1

Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective view taken on the line 77 in Fig. 6.

Fi s. 8 and 9 are sectional detail views laid in about the same planeillustrating'further modifications.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

, port the flooring of the I center sill angles.

as Fig. 7 but.

The center sill of the improved under frame is composed of a channelbeam 15, the central body portion or web of which is presented upwardlwith the flanges 16 ertending downward y, in connection w1th angle beams17 which are securely riveted on the flanges 16, said angle beamshavingv broad flanges, the vertical flanges being secured on the flangesof the channel-beam, as

stated, while the horizontal flanges extend outwardly to aflord'supportsfor the wooden sills which are customarily employed to supcar, but whichhave not been shown in the drawings. The center sill extends materiallybeyond or outwardly with respect to the bolster 18 on which it issupported, and with which it is connected by a gusset plate, as seen at19, said gusset plate being riveted on the bolster as Well as on thehorizontal flanges of the The center sill angles, which extend beyondthe channel beam 15, are connected together by a terminal tie plate orconnecting member 20 having flanges 21 which are riveted on the innerfaces of the center sill angles. The terminal tie plate 20 serves alsoas an abutting member on the inside face of the wood end sills of thecar superstructure.

The horizontal flanges of the center sill angles are connected togetherat intervals by tie'plates 22 one of which clearly appears in thesectional View, Fig. 5, it being understood that any desired number ofsuch tie plates may be distributed throughout the length of the underframe, four being, however, usually deemed suficient.

Draft sills, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are composed of anglebars 23 riveted on the under faces of the center sill angles, said draftsill angles being reinforced by angle bars 2 1 that are secured on theouter faces of their vertical flanges. The draft ,sill angles 23 aresecurely connected to the bolster by angle braces 25 (the draft sillsthemselves do not abut'against the bolster except through angles 25).The reinforcing angles 24 are spaced from the bolster to permit anglebrace 25 to make direct connection between draft sill 23 and bolster 18,as

- 17 'serve to attach the frame to the sills of the car by boltingvertically therethe draft sill angles may be variously spaced apart toaccommodate draft appliances of various types and dimensions, suchappliances, however, being not shown,

An under frame. constructed as described has several advantages over thetypes of under frames now generally used, and especially over the typesin which a heavy H- beam is employed. to constitute the center sillbackbone. The center sill channel or top chord member is located at .amaximum distance from the center of gravity of the entirecenter sill soas to give a maximum resistance to strains caused by end shocks on thedraft sills 23, such shocks being also transmitted through the entirelength of the under frames without injuriously afl'eet-' lng the woodensuperstructure.

The wide horizontal flanges of the center sill angles wooden through andalso giving the maximum amount of metal at the greatest distance fromthe neutral axis of the whole section,

serving to resist verticalload strains. The bolsters may be of any wellknown type,

v either cast steel or anytype of built-up body bolster already .apphedto the car whichis to be equipped withtheimproved under frame. Ifitshall be desired to vary the width of the under frame to accommodate thespacing of the wooden car sills, conveniently accomplished by using achannel beam 15 of greater or less width but "of suflicient weight togive the required 1 strength.

Such variation in width may be accomplished much more conveniently andat less expense-thanwhere a center sill or backbone'of the H-beam typeis employed.

In Figs. 6 and? there has been illustrated a modified construction whichhas particular reference ,to the manner of connecting the draft sillswith the center sill. Under this modification the horizontal flanges ofthe center sill angles 17 are provided with longitudinal slots 27, saidslots being spaced from :the vertical flanges .of said angles to suitpassa'ge of the sill plates 28 which are securely riveted on thevertical flanges of the center sill angles 1'1, liners 29 beinginterposed to fill thespace between the slot 27 and the vertical flangeof the..- angle bar. L-shaped angle the plates 28 with the horizontalflanges of the angle L-beams being riveted on the under faces of thehorizontal flanges of the angle 17, while short flanges ofsaid bars 31extend later-4 this may be draft rigging for the.

bars 30 are used to connect.

bars 17, the long flanges of saidconnection with the drawings heretoannexed, it willbe seen that I have produced a built-up under framewhich is not only possessed of great strength and ability to resiststrains, but in which the preponderance of metal has been" located withthe ex-.

press end in view of resisting the various strains to which the underframe may be subjected in the most effective way without danger oftransmitting destructive strains through the wooden superstructure ofthe car, and thereby subjecting such superstructure to serious injury.that the improved under frame is capable of being produced at an expensethat will compare favorably with that of the various types of underframe in present use.

It may be stated that a very essential, novel and important feature ofthe constructionof my device consists in the use of the element which Ihave designated as the gusset plate 19. This gusset plate is a flatplate of steel the side portions of which are beveled what is technicallknown as a gusset, the plate being of such width that when it isinterposed between the bolster and the center sill beneath materiallybeyond the side portions of said center sill which in the presentinstance consists of the horizontal flanges of the angle beams 17. Theextended portions of the gusset plateare riveted oii the bolster and thegusset plate is also connected with the bolster as well as with thehorizontal flanges of the an le beams by rivets in such a manner as toproduce a very durable and strain resisting construction. It will beobvious that any load strainimposed on the center :sill and bolster willbe distributed through the gusset plate laterally with respect to thebolster and thusth'e bolster as well as the center sillwillbe verymaterially reinforced by'the presence of the gusset plate. More thanthis: whendraft strain is exerted longitudinally on the draft gear withrespect to the centertsjilh'fsueh draft strain will be distributed bythe gusset plate :with respect tothebolster; and related part It mayalso be said rearwardly to produce the latter it will extend of; theunderframefthereby reinforcing the bolster against buckling or bendingin -a horizontal plane. -..hese results would, not

be obtainable wit plate constructed and arranged substanhout the use ofthe gusset I,

wardly extending horizontal flanges, and

a gusset plate interposed between the center sill and the bolster andsecurely connected with both the center sill and the bolster saidvgusset plate extending entirely beneath the center sill and above thebolster.

2. In an underfrahie for cars, the combination with a bolster and acenter sill of a gusset plate materially exceeding the width of thecenter sill said gusset plate being interposed between the bolster andthe center sill beneath the latter, the projecting parts of the gussetplate being secured on the bolster and intermediate parts of the gussetplate being securely connected with the bolster and with the center silland abovethe bolster.

3. In an under frame for cars, the combination with a bolster, of acenter sill comprising a channel beam having downturned flanges, anglebeams having vertical flanges secured on the downturned flanges of thechannel beam andoutwardly extending horizontal flanges, and a gussetplate interposed between and connected with the bolster and with thehorizontal flanges of the center sill angles, said gusset plateextending entirely across and beneath the center sill.

.between and connected with the bolster and with the horizontal flangesof the center sill angles; the component members of the center sillbeing extended materially beyond and to the outward of the bolster.

5. In an under frame for cars, the combination with a bolster, of acenter sill comprising a channel beam having downturned flanges, anglebeams having vertical flanges secured on the downturned flanges of thechannel beam and outwardly extending horizontal flanges, and a gussetplate interposed between and connected with the bolster and with thehorizontal flanges of the center sill angles; the component members ofthe center sill being extended materially beyond and to the outward ofthe bolster, the center sill angles being also extended beyond thechannel beam of the center sill;

and means for connecting the vertical flanges 6. In an under frame forcars, a bolster, a built-up center sill supported on and extendingmaterially beyond and to the outward of the bolster, a gusset plateinterposed between the bolster and the center sill and securelyconnected with each sa1d center sill including a channeled beam havingdownturned flanges, and angle beams secured on said flanges; and draftSlllS connected with and supported by the center sill angles.

7. In an under frame for cars, a bolster, a built-up center sillsupported on and ex tending materially beyond and to the outward of thebolster, a gusset plate. interposed betweenthe bolster and thercentersill and securely connected with each said center sill including achanneled beam having downturned flanges, and angle beams secured onsaid flanges; and draft sills connected with and supported by the centersill angles and extending downwardly with respect thereto.

8. In an under frame for cars, a bolster, a center sill supported on andextending materially beyond and to the outward of the bolster, a gussetplate interposed between the bolster and the center sill and securelyconnected with each said center sill including a channel beam havingdownturned flanges, and angle beams secured thereon and, havingoutwardly extendin horizontal flanges, and draft sills, inc uding anglebeams secured on the under faces of the hori zontal flanges of thecenter sill angles,

9. In an under frame for cars, a bolster, a center sill supported onand, extending materially beyond and to the outward of the bolster, agusset plate interposed between the bolster and the center sill andsecurely connected with each said center sill including a beyond thecenter sill angles, and means of tying together the horizontal flangesof said extended portions.

10. In an under frame for cars, a bolster, a center sill supported onand extending materially beyond and to the outward of the bolster, saidcenter sill including a channel beam having downturned flanges and anglebeams secured thereon and having outwardly extending horizontal flanges,draft sills including angle beams secured on the under faces of thecenter sill angles that project beyond the bolster, said draft sillangles being spaced from the bolster, and means connecting the bolsterwith the vertical flanges of the draft sill angles. 4

11. In an nder frame for cars, a bo1ster,'

o center sill supported on and extending materially beyond and to theoutward of the bolster, said center sill including a channel integer ingspaced from the bolster, and means con- 10 nesting the bolster with thevertical flanges of the dreft sillangles, said draft sill angles beingequipped with reinforcements consistin of an le bars connectedtherewith.

n testimony whereof I aiiix my signa- 15 BU M. BosWonTH.

I 0091a: 02 nntent my he obtntned for five canto eaten, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, ID. *3.

